Using artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT to solve problems may make people less willing to persevere when the technology is unavailable, according to new research involving 1,222 participants.
The study, co-authored by Brian Christian, a research fellow at the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Human-Compatible AI, found that people who relied on AI assistance struggled more with independent problem-solving after the tool was withdrawn, raising questions about the long-term effects of using chatbots for everyday tasks.
Researchers conducted three randomised controlled experiments involving participants who tackled maths problems and reading comprehension exercises, comparing those who could use AI with people who had to work without it.
In the first experiment, involving 354 people, one group solved basic fractions with ChatGPT available for assistance, while another worked independently, and researchers removed AI access from the first group after 12 questions.
Although the AI-assisted participants initially achieved greater accuracy, their performance deteriorated sharply when they had to continue without the tool, while those who had worked independently maintained their progress.
The 2nd experiment
A second experiment involving 667 participants produced similar results, with people who had relied on AI more likely to answer incorrectly or abandon questions after losing access to assistance.
The researchers also tested 201 participants on a reading comprehension exercise, finding that AI users again showed reduced accuracy and persistence when they had to work independently.
The findings suggest that AI can change not only how accurately people complete a task but also how willing they are to keep trying when a problem becomes difficult.
Christian said the results highlighted the danger of tools that deliver answers instantly, potentially making the slower process of thinking through a problem feel unnecessarily frustrating.
Researchers describe this effort as “productive struggle”, arguing that working through difficulties can help people develop skills, discover interests and build expertise.
The implications extend beyond classrooms, as professionals and researchers increasingly use AI to speed up their work, potentially sacrificing opportunities to develop independent judgement and understanding.
Christian argued that AI systems should be designed to teach users rather than simply provide answers, helping people strengthen their abilities instead of replacing the mental effort needed to acquire them.
The study, presented at the Conference on Language Modeling in October, does not establish that all AI use damages cognitive abilities, but it raises concerns about what happens when people routinely outsource difficult thinking to machines.